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The body of 28-year-old Lawrence Burkett, a World War II
soldier killed in Germany in 1944, is returning to Jefferson.

His body was
found near the Germany-France border last year. His identity was confirmed by
DNA testing. While his wife, Dora, died in 1994 without knowing his
whereabouts, his burial this weekend will hopefully grant closure to his three
living children: Gladys Shatley, who was 10-years-old when her father left,
Katherine, who was seven, and Bill, who was 5-days-old.

Burkett was on sentry duty on the morning of Dec. 11, 1944
when German troops attacked with mortar shells from the north and northeast.
Burkett was one of the 30 U.S. servicemen missing after the battle. There are
over 78,000 missing servicemen from World War II.

Before the war, Burkett worked as a carpenter and
farmer. Burkett also sang in the Friendship Baptist Church choir.